OROVILLE -- A jury reached a verdict Thursday in the case of a former Butte County sheriff's deputy who was accused of arranging through text messages to meet a minor for sex.

After a total of three hours of deliberation over two days, the panel consisting of nine men and three women found former deputy Earl William Klapperich, 28, guilty on two felony counts.

Word that a verdict had been reached came at 10:30 a.m., just over an hour after the jury met to resume deliberation.

The jurors found Klapperich guilty of meeting a minor for lewd purposes and for possession of material depicting sexual conduct of a minor.

Two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor were dismissed July 26.

During the trial that began July 25, jurors watched a nearly three-hour interview conducted after Klapperich's arrest outside a Nord Avenue restaurant in Chico, where he was to meet a 14-year-old girl on May 11, 2012.

The "girl" was actually Lt. Juan Diaz, an investigator for the District Attorney's Office who sent the text messages while posing as a teenager Klapperich met during a call in April 2012 in Berry Creek.

The District Attorney's Office began investigating the case after the Sheriff's Office received a complaint about how the deputy handled a call where two girls, 14 and 16 years old, were reported as runaways.

In the interview played for the jury, Klapperich reportedly acknowledged making mistakes, but repeatedly told Diaz and investigator Jason Barkley he only intended to counsel the girl.

At one point in the interview, he said, "It was never my intention to have sex with her, or do anything with her."

The former deputy reportedly sent text messages over a 13-hour period, including requests for more explicit photographs.

Klapperich took the stand Monday in his defense, claiming he thought the text messages were a prank fellow deputies were playing on him, and that he went along with them.

He also admitted lying during the interview with investigators and testified he never intended to commit a sexual act with the teenager because he is gay.

However, a woman who testified earlier reportedly said she'd been in a sexual relationship with Klapperich for 2 1?2 years, beginning when she was 15 and he was 21.

At the request of substitute defense attorney Gabriel M. Quinnan, each juror was polled and affirmed his or her decision.

Judge James Reilley thanked the jurors for their service and dismissed them, ordering their names and contact information sealed.

After the jury left the courtroom, Reilley listened to arguments from deputy district attorney Stacy Edwards and Quinnan on whether to remand Klapperich into custody.

Klapperich was out of custody during the trial.

Edwards objected to allowing Klapperich to remain free until sentencing, noting his conviction for meeting a minor for lewd purposes will require him to register as a sex offender.

Stacy also asserted the defendant's continued sexual behavior and conduct involving juvenile females over a prolonged period of time made him a threat to public safety and a flight risk.

Quinnan disagreed and asked the judge to allow Klapperich to remain out of custody. He said Klapperich has been completely cooperative, has made every court date and that he has family living in the area.

Reilley ordered Klapperich remanded without bail and requested a probation report for sentencing.

Klapperich's reaction to the guilty verdicts couldn't be seen because he sat with his back to spectators, but his shoulders slumped slightly. Quinnan said later the defendant looked "sad."

The defendant's wife wept softly as her husband was led away in handcuffs and court adjourned.

After the hearing, Quinnan said he didn't agree with the verdict.

"I think it was an unjust resolution, based on some of the candid revelations made during trial," said Quinnan, referring to Klapperich's admission of being gay.

The prosecuting attorney said she was pleased the jury took the time to review the evidence.

"They came to a just conclusion," Edwards said.

Klapperich is scheduled to appear for sentencing at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 28.